Sask. senator part of new group to promote regional interests

Eleven Canadian senators have broken away from their political affiliations to form their own group aimed at promoting issues important to the regions they represent.

Pamela Wallin is a senator from Saskatchewan. She is part of the group of 11 Senators who have formed the Canadian Senators Group (CSG).

Wallin told Gormley the point of the Senate is to provide a sober second thought, and it was starting to get away from that when it comes to political affiliations.

“I want to be able to always be a voice for Saskatchewanians at the table and I think we need to get back to a time and a place where regional representation is taken seriously,” said Wallin.

She said the members of the CSG represent several provinces and all want to be heard when it comes to the regions they represent.

“It was very hard to have the voices heard despite all our best efforts. To say, this is what it means for our region, and in turn what it means for the country when our region is in trouble economically speaking,” Wallin said.

Wallin said, we have all seen what a majority or a strong minority can do in the country, which is basically anything it wants.

“I think as people see what this group wants to do, which is represent the regions we’re there to represent and have an intelligent, well researched, low key, non-partisan discussions about issues that matter, maybe we can get somewhere.”